Dual Monitor Question

KiD[ReD] · #1 (**permalink**) 04-16-2006, 01:59 PM

Will my video card support two monitors?

My specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 939 Processor
19-inch LCD LG monitor
2 GB DDR Memory
Nvidia Geforce 6600 256 MB PCI-E Video
6 Channel Audio
10/100 Networking
160 GB SATA HD
16x DVD RW Drive
Keyboard/Mouse/speakers-subwoofer
Windows XP

Keep in mind that I have the GeForce 6600, not the 6600 GT.

At the back there are two pluggy port thingies; one blue, one kahki colour. The blue one is attached to my monitor. However, the kahki one is a different shape than the blue one.

Also, when I right click on my desktop I only see one monitor...

Can I buy another 19-inch LCD and use two monitors, or would I need to upgrade to a new video card as well?

Beavis68 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-16-2006, 05:16 PM

the white one is a digital video output. you should be able to get an adaptor for it.

I dont know if you will be able to do the extended desktop thing or not though.

KRE8R · #3 (**permalink**) 04-16-2006, 11:23 PM

Yes, if it has two inputs then you can have two monitors. And yes you will be able to extend your desktop, have dual desktops etc. Beavis is right about possibly needing an adapter. Although it should have come with one.

So is your monitor that you are using now an LCD or a CRT?

If it is an LCD then I am not sure if there is an adapter that converts the CRT to LCD.

My new computer has dual GeForce 7800 GTs and each one has two LCD inputs on it. Each Card came with two adapters.

KiD[ReD] · #4 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 11:35 AM

It works:

bboy · #5 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 11:44 AM

dual monitors are teh shit

KiD[ReD] · #6 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 12:26 PM

Does anyone know of any freeware programs similar to UltraMon (http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/)?

KiD[ReD] · #7 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 12:35 PM

Nevermind, I went with Ultramon - must have for multi monitors.

Marm · #8 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 02:20 PM

Didn't know you needed accessory apps for multiple montitors. I never felt a need for one. Whats it do that is not a hassle for me?

KiD[ReD] · #9 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 03:36 PM

Dual Monitors

Believe me when I tell you that whenever I heard all the hype of having dual monitors I shook my head and rolled my eyes. Why bother having two monitors? Sure, it's a vanity thing, but I can do everything I need to on one, why do I need two? If anything it'd slow me down.

However, today I went out and bought another 19-inch LCD anyhow. Why? To be honest, mainly just for vanity. However, now that I have it. HOLY CRAP. It's not for vanity any more.

What can I say? Dual monitors simply rock. It is so much different once you actually have them in front of you and start using them. Now I can't go back to just one. As soon as I placed my second monitor next to my first, it was simply shocking just how much viewspace I had. I had to change my pants.

Which brings me to my next point. If you have 2 or more monitors or are thinking of getting another one, you have to get UltraMon. It's a program which unleashes the true power of multiple monitors.

For example, it will allow you to have taskbars across both monitors, allow you to stretch applications across both monitors (Hello Photoshop...), let you stretch wallpapers across both monitors, has special buttons next to the minimize/restore/close buttons in windows which let you quickly move to the other monitor etc. It's completely customizable too. It costs only $40 and accepts PayPal.

Dual monitors are great for so many reasons... here are two examples of how they are useful which you may not have realized:

1. In the screenshot below, I am playing Oblivion on one monitor, while idling in IRC on the other. What makes this great is that now I can play my game, and see who is logging in or messaging me on MSN without having to keep on pausing and alt-tabbing in and out. It essentially allows me to 'screen' people and ignore people while I play while being able to watch out for important messages and such. I can't rememeber how many times I've alt-tabbed to check whenever I heard people log in or message me because I was waiting for one particular person.

2. Thanks to UltraMon, I can have applications stretch across both monitors with the click of a button. This is ideal for designers - think of using Photoshop across 2560x1024 of workspace.

Marm · #10 (**permalink**) 04-17-2006, 04:22 PM

You can already spread apps across monitors... I can use Photoshop across both. But I don't because they are different sizes/resolutions and on a different level (Laptop can't go higher since I need to reach the keys, and I hate looking down at big monitors), makes the picture look wierd and difficult to work on.

For $40 it better get up and clean the monitors too.